After that, the Orcs lurked among the Misty Mountains, and in Third Age 2941, a group of them led by the Great Goblin, captured Thorin and Company in the High Pass. They escaped with Gandalf's help, killing the Great Goblin in the process. Soon after, Azog's son, Bolg united the Orcs of the Misty Mountains and led them east to fight the Battle of Five Armies. That battle ended in defeat for the Orcs, and left the Misty Mountains free of them for many years afterwards.

In Third Age 2989Balin left the Lonely Mountain and entered Moria with other Dwarves to start a colony. The Orcs responded and about 2994, the entire expeditionary force was besieged and destroyed

By the time of the War of the Ring, the Orcs of the Mountains reclaimed Moria but fell under the command of Sauron and Saruman. There were Orcs from the Misty Mountains, in the party that captured Merry and Pippin at Parth Galen.

Legend says that the Longbeards eventually succeeded in recapturing Moria, so the power of the Orcs in the Misty Mountains must have waned considerably after the Third Age if they survived at all.